What We Learned From MARVEL COMICS January 2017 Solicitations

RING IN THE NEW YEAR

"Marvel NOW!" is in full swing in January, with Marvel's heroes crossing over, uncovering secrets, and reeling in the aftermath of Civil War II.

With big waves sweeping across the Marvel line, there's a lot to take in. As always, Newsarama has scoured Marvel's January 2017 solicitations and pulled out the most important news of the month.

HERALDS

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"Marvel NOW!" is making for strange bedfellows, as Silver Surfer reunites with Galactus in Silver Surfer #10. But since their last meeting, Galactus has become a Lifebringer. Could that change in demeanor be behind their new partnership?

Then, in Deadpool #24, Wade Wilson may make a “deal with the devil” to save someone he loves. But what does Wade have to offer at this point – and who would motivate him to make that sacrifice?

It's worth noting that over in Spider-Man/Deadpool, Mephisto has been teasing the deal he made with Peter Parker for one of the wall-crawler's loved ones.

HIDDEN EVIL

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There’s some darkness lurking in the corners of the Marvel Universe. First off, someone set Bullseye loose on Daredevil again, and Daredevil #15 will finally reveal who is behind the contract.

But much deeper – and darker – is the evil hiding in Jessica Jones #4, a secret that may be behind her strained relationship with Luke Cage and her missing baby. But what’s so dark that it could lead to that? Could Marvel’s private eye have uncovered something as terrible as Steve Rogers’ Hydra affiliation?

I+X

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Poor Bobby Drake. He’s just coming to terms with his sexual identity, and who should be his first crush but an Inhuman – and right in the midst of the war between Inhumans and Mutants?

Iceman and his new love Romeo (a little on the nose, Marvel) – will be caught between their respective peoples in All-New X-Men #17. But will true live survive Inhumans Vs. X-Men? Will anything?

ULTIMATE MJOLNIR

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Odinson’s quest to become worthy again takes a twist in January’s Unworthy Thor #3 as Ultimate Thor’s Mjolnir finally resurfaces with Odinson trying to claim it.

Could a Thunder God without a hammer and a hammer without a wielder add up to one newly worthy Thor? Or would it even work that way to being with? Can the Thor of one reality be worthy of the Mjolnir of another?

Something tells us we may have an answer at some point in 2017.

NEW HERO, OLD FOE

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Riri Williams isn’t even technically operating as Ironheart yet, but she may already be getting in over her head. Invincible Iron Man #3 teases that she’ll face a “big Marvel villain.”

Writer Brian Bendis said on his Tumblr that she’d face a “mix of new and old” villains in her series, but it seems she’s kicking things off with a classic clash.

Against which Iron Man foe, however, we'll have to wait and see.

MARVEL TEAM-UP

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The Marvel Universe is full of mini crossovers in January, with many heroes popping up in each others’ titles. First off, Nightcrawler will guest star in Spider-Man/Deadpool #13, while the newly-christened Ironheart, Riri Williams, will appear in Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur #15.

After that, Wolverine will rear her head in Ghost Rider #3, and Iron Fist will square off with the Merc With A Mouth in Deadpool #25.

QUASAR

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An all new Quasar was christened all the way back in Avengers: Standoff and then… Kind of fell off the radar. But in January, she’ll finally be back in action in Captain America: Steve Rogers #9.

Steve will be recruiting the new Quasar to help track down Kobik, the sentient Cosmic Cube responsible for Standoff, and for rewiring Steve’s history to make him an agent of Hydra.

SHURI REBORN

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T’Challa’s sister Shuri seemingly died at the start of Ta’Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze's Black Panther run – though readers know she’s still been around. Now, her triumphant return is on the books for Black Panther #10.

And though she won’t be returning as Black Panther, she’ll still be fighting alongside her brother with new powers and a new codename.

SYMBIOTE SHUFFLE

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The new Venom title isn’t even on shelves yet and there are already mysteries brewing around it – most of all who will bond with the infamous alien symbiote for the new ongoing.

The solicitation for Venom #3 makes it clear that there’s a new host for the symbiote – or at least one that isn’t Flash Thompson. Whether it’s a brand new host or a “new” host in the sense that it’s no longer Flash isn’t known, and Marvel has previously revealed the original Venom, Eddie Brock, would play a role in the series.

ZERO DAY

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Steve Rogers died at the end of the original Civil War, and now at the end of Civil War II, it looks like history may be repeating itself as the solicitation for U.S.Avengers #2 asks “Where were you on Zero Day – the day Captain America died?”

This raises numerous questions, as both Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson seem to be alive concurrent with U.S.Avengers. On the other hand, Ulysses did have a vision of Steve Rogers dying. Could the Marvel Universe be headed for a major twist? Or could this have something to do with the female Captain America who is part of the team?